52 Instagram Business Ideas You Can Start Today 2024

Updated: July 24th, 2023

You may think Instagram is just a social media platform to scroll through during your free time and connect with friends. You can do so much more on Instagram, including starting a lucrative business!

Entrepreneurs have launched successful Instagram business ideas and are enjoying good profits from their businesses.

Are you interested in starting an Instagram business but unsure which idea can be profitable?

This post highlights 52 profitable Instagram business ideas you can start in 2024.

Whether you are looking for Instagram business ideas from home or Instagram business ideas for students, you have come to the right page.

Here they are:

1. Start a life coaching business

Life coach helps people in various areas of their lives using a combination of emotional intelligence, professional knowledge, and experience.

Life coaching is a popular industry worth over $2.85 billion, and the number of life coaches has increased by 33% between 2015-2019.

This is a very profitable business and can be started at virtually no cost. You’ll need a computer, a high-speed Internet connection, and a LinkedIn account to start. Then, you can begin coaching part-time in your spare time until you build up your clientele.

How much you can make: $100 — $660,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How I Launched A $5K/Month Platform To Connect With Growth Mentors

GrowthMentor, a platform connecting vetted growth mentors for one-on-one calls, founded by Fotis Panagiotakopoulos, has had over 2,500 mentorship calls booked to date and has seen success in using word of mouth, content marketing, and leveraging other people's networks as the primary drivers of customer acquisition.

About
Foti started GrowthMentor over 5 years ago
Revenue
Foti grew the business to $10K/month
Read by 41,912 founders

2. Become a business coach

Are you thinking of starting a career as a business coach?

Becoming a business coach can be a great way to help aspiring entrepreneurs while earning a healthy income. You may want to consider becoming a coach if you have skills in specialized business fields such as marketing, e-commerce, stress management, or leadership.

Many small-business owners are finding it hard to get started, grow, and succeed. As a business coach, your job will be to help entrepreneurs identify new opportunities and take advantage of the ones they already have.

How much you can make: $3,500 — $9,259,259/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Started A $100K/Month Business Mentoring Dropshipping Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar has developed multiple six-figure drop shipping businesses, and his company, e-commerce mentoring, specializes in helping others create their own successful companies, with favorite platforms including using Shopify and apps such as Loox reviews and SMSBump.

About
Kamil started E-commerce Mentoring about 7 years ago
Revenue
Kamil grew the business to $100K/month
Costs
It cost Kamil $1000 to start the business
Read by 24,254 founders

3. Start an animation business

Animated posts and animated ads have become more prevalent today than ever before. Starting an animation business focusing on helping brands create animated ads and illustrations can be fun and profitable.

The animated videos can be posted on Instagram and other social media platforms. To start an animation studio, you should start by hiring some specialists. You need a pair of illustrators, animators, and a scriptwriter to bring the idea to life.

As an animation artist, you can create animation and visual effects for films, gamers, ads, etc.

How much you can make: $500 — $400,000/month

How long does it take to build: 212 days (?)

How I Started A $7K/Month Freelance Career Designing Explainer Animation Videos

An animation company owner generates between $75,000 and $100,000 annually from producing custom explainer animations for start-ups and marketing companies for between $5,500 and $7,500; logo animations for companies that market using videos at $200 to $500; and Instagram Stories stickers beginning at $350.

About
Mike started drive80 about 13 years ago
Revenue
Mike grew the business to $7K/month
Read by 7,101 founders

4. Start a product photography business

Product photography involves taking pictures of products for commercial use. Online traders hire professional photographers to take great photos of their products to post online. The images testify quality and value of the products and establish transparency in the eCommerce business.

If you love photography, you can become a product photographer. Take high-end photos and use photo editing software to improve the appearance.

How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)

How I Started A Commercial Product Photography Business

Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.

Revenue
Tsour grew the business to $45K/month
Costs
It cost Tsour $5000 to start the business
Read by 14,618 founders

5. Become an online fitness coach

Online fitness coaching is using live or recorded video to offer fitness classes to an online audience at a fee. To become successful in business, online fitness coaches should possess the following personal qualities:

  • Stay focused on clients’ needs and goals
  • Be ready to walk the talk
  • Ask the clients questions
  • Focused on educating the client
  • Adjust to a language clients understand

Increase in number of internet usersand more hours spent online, online businesses will keep thriving.

Therefore, fitness coaches looking to expand their businesses or venture into new markets can consider starting an online fitness coach business.

How much you can make: $250 — $39,875,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 142 days (?)

How I Started A $48K/Month Business With An Online Fitness Training Service

This case study is about a former personal trainer who launched his online personal training platform, TeamFFLEX, starting with no money and a lot of drive, and grew it into a 6-figure business in less than a year, now doing $48,000 a month with potential for continued growth.

About
Ryan started TeamFFLEX about 10 years ago
Revenue
Ryan grew the business to $82K/month
Costs
It cost Ryan $500 to start the business
Read by 25,246 founders

6. Start a stock photography business

Stock photography is typically sold on an exclusive basis to one buyer for a single usage fee. Stock photos are often available in different sizes, resolutions, and file formats. Businesses most commonly use stock photos for marketing purposes.

Stock photography is the supply of photographs often licensed for specific uses. Stock photos are the perfect marketing and advertising resource for website owners and bloggers.

You can build an impressive portfolio and earn a passive income by uploading high-quality stock photos.

To start a stock photography business , invest in some good photography gear and learn how to take stock photos. An excellent online presence can help you sell your stock photos faster and at profitable margins.

How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Started A Commercial Product Photography Business

Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.

Revenue
Tsour grew the business to $45K/month
Costs
It cost Tsour $5000 to start the business
Read by 14,618 founders

7. Start a dropshipping business

Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products to customers without holding inventory.

Instead, when a customer makes a purchase, you buy the product from a third-party supplier, who then ships it directly to the customer.

To start a dropshipping business on a budget, choose a niche or category of products you want to sell.

Next, set up an online store using platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. Then, find reliable suppliers from platforms like AliExpress, list their products on your store, and focus on marketing and customer service to grow your business.

Remember to carefully manage your expenses and monitor your profit margins to ensure profitability.

How much you can make: $6,000 — $3,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $6,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 10 hours/week

How I Started A $100K/Month Business Mentoring Dropshipping Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar has developed multiple six-figure drop shipping businesses, and his company, e-commerce mentoring, specializes in helping others create their own successful companies, with favorite platforms including using Shopify and apps such as Loox reviews and SMSBump.

About
Kamil started E-commerce Mentoring about 7 years ago
Revenue
Kamil grew the business to $100K/month
Costs
It cost Kamil $1000 to start the business
Read by 24,254 founders

8. Start an instagram fan account

An Instagram fan account aims at supporting or appreciating a celebrity, a public fan, a brand, or an organization. The fan account covers the subject's daily movements and breaks stories about the fan, to keep their target audience entertained and updated.

An Instagram fan page earns profits through promotions and advertisements from interesting brands.

Are you interested in a celebrity, public figure, brand, or organization?

You can create an Instagram fan account and show your support or share opinions of the individual or brands through the Instagram account.

How much you can make: $500/month

How A 15-Year-Old Made A Profitable Fan Account On Instagram

A 15-year-old boy created an Instagram fan page for NFL player Ezekial Elliott which garnered 50,000 engaged followers and nearly 20,000 additional followers in the last two months alone, with currently no expenses aside from ads, and hopes to start selling his own products.

About
Sammy started @cowboyfeed over 7 years ago
Revenue
Sammy grew the business to $500/month
Read by 17,228 founders

9. Start a DIY and crafts blog

Do you have the skill to make cool stuff? You can start a cool crafts and DIY blog today.

A crafts and DIY blog entertains and educates its audience on how to create nice artwork. For instance, you can teach how to create nail art, sewing, paper craft, etc.

Are you interested in starting a CIY and craft blog? To start, choose a niche and come up with cool videos illustrating different artistic techniques. Even if you do not have the skills, you can engage talented artists and record a video illustrating how to do the craft.

You can then post the video on your blog or your Instagram page. To make money through DIY and crafts blogs, you can start a subscription service, partner with promoters, or through adverts on your page.

How much you can make: $200 — $600,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

How I Started A $1.2K/Month DIY And Crafts Blog And Got Tons Of Media Appearances

The Crafty Gentleman, a UK-based DIY and craft blog, generates over $1.2k per month through sponsored brand partnerships and recently launched an online shop after organically growing a reader base and consistently nurturing an engaging online presence.

About
Mike started The Crafty Gentleman over 10 years ago
Revenue
Mike grew the business to $1.2K/month
Read by 6,918 founders

10. Become a social media consultant

Social media has become popular due to its ability to link businesses to their target customers. Social media consultants are professionals who help their clients improve, optimize and grow their social media presence.
Becoming a social media consultant comes with work flexibility and higher earning potential, but it also takes time and work commitment to grow the business.

To become a social media consultant, you must first become adept at using social media platforms and industry tools. Take online or offline courses like content marketing, public relations, and communication skills. Social media experts can choose a general practice or opt to focus on a niche.

How much you can make: $100 — $990,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

How I Bootstrapped A Social Media Automation Tool To $2MM/Year

MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.

About
Chris started MeetEdgar over 10 years ago
Revenue
Chris grew the business to $333K/month
Read by 14,148 founders

11. Start a product review blog

A product review blog typically includes a description of the product, as well as a rating and review. This can be anything from reviewing gadgets to books to software.

To start a product review blog, you need to have strong writing skills and be familiar with the available products. You should also have a good understanding of how to market your blog and generate traffic.

The recent trend that is making this business more popular is the growth of social media. With more people using social media, businesses are looking for ways to connect with their customers. Product review blogs provide businesses with a way to connect with their customers and generate positive reviews.

Starting a product review blog is a great way to share your opinion on different products. This type of blog can be very profitable, as you can generate revenue through advertising and affiliate marketing.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $3,500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)

How long does it take to build: 35 days (?)

How My Blog With Body-Safe Sex Toys Reviews Turned Into A $2K/Month Side Hustle

Sex blogger turns a free WordPress blog into a $2,000 a month part-time digital business by investing in education, self-hosting, and building relationships within the NSFW community.

About
Cy started Super Smash Cache over 9 years ago
Revenue
Cy grew the business to $2K/month
Costs
It cost Cy $14 to start the business
Read by 17,274 founders

12. Start a mobile photography business

Want to start your own photography business? You're not alone. With the rise of social media and photo-sharing, blogging, and online retailing, it's never been easier to start making money behind your camera.

There are photographers shooting weddings, creating images for ad campaigns, freelancing for magazines, touring the world, taking photographs of destinations — the list is endless!

To start mobile photography , research the target audience and determine which specialization area is more lucrative. Invest in high-quality, professional cameras, lenses, and a computer with professional software photo-editing software.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)

Embracing the Experience Economy with a $300K/mo Photo Booth Startup

Photobooth Supply Co. offers a profitable business opportunity through their sleek and portable photo booths, with up to 97% satisfaction rate and a focus on customer experience, in a fast-growing event industry where photo booths are exploding.

About
Brandon started Photobooth Supply Co. about 11 years ago
Revenue
Brandon grew the business to $500K/month
Read by 15,176 founders

13. Become a social media influencer

Social media has become integral to people's lives and daily routines. Given the importance of social media, brands are flocking to different social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok in the hope of connecting with their target audience.

A popular approach taken by these brands is engaging social media influencers. A social media influencer has established credibility in a specific industry and has access to a vast audience they can persuade to act based on recommendations.

Anyone can become a social influencer so long as they have the right strategy. Choose a popular niche based on your interests and start creating relevant content.

How much you can make: $2,500 — $300,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $601 (?)

How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)

How I Started A $2.5K/Month Blog About Motherhood, Life And Travel

How one mother built a profitable frugal motherhood, life, and travel blog from scratch, using Instagram, Pinterest, and paid sponsorships to grow from 0 to 18.5K followers and generate $1,500-$3,000 per month in less than two years.

About
Asia started Frugal and Frills over 5 years ago
Revenue
Asia grew the business to $3K/month
Read by 7,069 founders

14. Start a personal styling business

A personal stylist advises individuals on aesthetic choices such as new fashion trends, clothing styles, colors, and make-up. To become a personal stylist, you must have a detailed style portfolio, a qualification in fashion, make-up, or a related discipline. Prior experience in the fashion industry will be an added advantage.

How much you can make: $150 — $5,934/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,200 (?)

How long does it take to build: 21 days (?)

Spotify For Clothes: How I Launched A Business Helping Guys Discover New Clothing

On Brand founder Brian McEuen curates personalized selections of clothing for men online, sending emails to individual users without duplicate products, with 75 current users and an annualized revenue run rate of $1800.

About
Brian started On Brand about 4 years ago
Revenue
Brian grew the business to $150/month
Costs
It cost Brian $1200 to start the business
Read by 3,333 founders

15. Sell digital products

Digital products are top-rated. They’re easy to create and share and a great way to build a business.

Digital products can be software-based, like an app or game, or information-based, like an ebook or course. They can also be something else entirely—like a membership site or a community. The possibilities are endless!

So what makes digital products such a great way to build a business? Well, first of all, they’re effortless to create. You don’t have to hire anyone else to do it for you; you can do it yourself! And because there’s no risk of having inventory sitting around in your garage, digital products can be sold directly from your website without worrying about moving merchandise.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $1,766,666/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 58 days (?)

My Finance Newsletter & Community Hit A $3M Run Rate This Year

Contrarian Thinking is a premium membership community that teaches its 1.5 million members how to implement cash flow strategies to achieve financial freedom, with a current run rate of $3 million and a goal of $50 million ARR in five years.

About
Codie started Contrarian Thinking over 4 years ago
Revenue
Codie grew the business to $250K/month
Skills
Public Speaking, Copywriting, Community Building
Costs
It cost Codie $5000 to start the business
Read by 5,027 founders

16. Become a videographer

A videographer uses his video camera to record footage for different events.

Examples of events where videographers are common include weddings, documentaries, training videos, commercials, TV shows, infomercials, live events, corporate promotions, etc. Videographers are not only responsible for operating the camera. They must have the skills required for the production of a video, which includes the following:

  • Lighting
  • Sound
  • Maintenance
  • Equipment repair
  • Video editing

To become a videographer, pursue a videography education, and attend internships to gain experience. Build a portfolio, so your target audience finds you online and starts hiring your services.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $250,000/month

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

How We Started A $45K/Month Product Photography And Video Company

Results Imagery co-founders Kyle Nelson and Eli Libby launched their digital agency that focused solely on media creation for brands and product companies, helping clients monetize their conversion-centric media, with their current monthly revenue at $45,000.

About
Kyle started Results Imagery almost 7 years ago
Revenue
Kyle grew the business to $110K/month
Read by 9,322 founders

17. Start an ecommerce reselling business

An eCommerce reseller purchases services or goods for resale rather than consumption. Becoming an eCommerce reseller is a great way to launch an online business without worrying about production costs.

To start an eCommerce reseller business, you do not need a website immediately! You can focus on a social media-based reseller business and create a website later as your business grows.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $150,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $4,998 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

My Side Hustle Makes $1.2M/Year Selling Car Accessories

Empyre Off-Road, an e-commerce business founded by Greg Shuey which sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners, generated approximately $100,000 a month in revenue and was able to expand its product offering, focusing on content marketing, email marketing campaigns, and organic social media to attract and retain customers.

About
Greg started Empyre Off-Road over 6 years ago
Revenue
Greg grew the business to $100K/month
Costs
It cost Greg $4998 to start the business
Read by 6,382 founders

18. Start an online cooking business

If you love to cook and want to start a business online, there are several opportunities that you can explore. Here are a couple of different approaches you can take:

  • Sell your recipes online
  • Become an influencer or blogger
  • Conduct online cooking classes/courses

Here are some benefits of starting an online cooking business:

  • You can have flexible working hours
  • You can start the business from your home
  • It requires a small investment
  • Cooking business is a rewarding work

How much you can make: $7,500 — $417,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)

MOCHI-MAKING EMPIRE PRODUCES PROFITS AND DELIGHT

Kaori's Kitchen, founded by Kaori Becker and her mother, offers classes on mochi-making, which originally began as physical sessions but moved to online classes during the pandemic, resulting in a growth in students and an annual revenue of $90,000 through bookings on Airbnb Experiences and Verlocal.

About
Kaori started Kaori's Kitchen about 8 years ago
Revenue
Kaori grew the business to $7.5K/month
Read by 937 founders

19. Start a professional organizing business

Are you interested in a side hustle business idea you can launch today? How about becoming a professional organizing consultant? You can teach others how to keep their spaces neatly organized if you have special organization skills.

Typically, a professional organizing business helps clients develop critical organizing skills through training. To start your business, you can create videos and share them on Instagram or other social media platforms.

To earn income from the organizing business, you can partner with promoters or introduce paid advertising opportunities.

How much you can make: $8,000 — $100,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 40 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 100 hours/week

How I Make $8K/Month Helping Organizers Automate Their Business

Professional organizer turned system strategist boosts monthly sales to $8,000 by helping others in the industry implement business systems and through successful niche marketing on Instagram for Dubsado CRM setups.

About
Amber started Arranged by Amber over 5 years ago
Revenue
Amber grew the business to $8K/month
Costs
It cost Amber $2500 to start the business
Read by 4,023 founders

20. Start a travel influencer business

Travel influencers create content about travel, tourism, and culture and share their experiences via social media or personal blogs.

If you love exploring new places and are interested in earning a side income, consider becoming a travel influencer. Your role will be to document places you have visited and feature unique formations, cultures, and landscapes.

Share your content via social media channels and include relevant hashtags. Travel influencers earn income through partnerships with travel and tour companies and advertisement revenue based on their niche.

How much you can make: $50 — $416,667/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

On Building A Travel Recommendations Platform

PlanIt is a travel recommendation and planning platform that has seen compelling growth in database coverage and user growth, covering every country in the world with several thousand users and a large SEO focus as well as a growing interest from travel and lifestyle businesses to list their details.

About
William started Planit over 3 years ago
Revenue
William grew the business to $50/month
Costs
It cost William $1500 to start the business
Read by 4,225 founders

21. Become a graphic designer

Graphic designing involves creating sketch designs and materials for corporate clients, advertising agencies, public relations firms, and publishers. Besides, graphic designers provide visual solutions to specific company images, log design, and branding problems.

Graphic design is an excellent career for creative thinkers who enjoy using their talent and artistic skills combined with technology and communication abilities to come up with unique solutions for their clients.

How much you can make: $8,000 — $81,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 165 days (?)

How We Make $7.5K/Month With A Productized Service

Draftss.com is a productized graphic design and front-end code service on subscription that made $66k ARR in 2019, has an MRR of $9.6k as of July 2020, and offers add-ons such as designers being added to team in interacting tools and front-end code services on WordPress using various page builders like Elementor and Divi.

About
Junaid started Draftss almost 6 years ago
Revenue
Junaid grew the business to $15K/month
Costs
It cost Junaid $100 to start the business
Read by 11,323 founders

22. Become a mobile makeup artist

A makeup artist is a beautician who offers general makeup services, including facial aesthetics, thorough makeup, and creating custom looks for celebrities and even actors on movie sets.

You can serve clients from their homes or offices as a makeup artist. Therefore, makeup artists avoid paying rent or paying expensive licenses. Besides, makeup artists get to meet different famous people.

To stand out as a professional makeup artist , keep up with the developments in the cosmetology industry, and focus on providing personalized customer service.

23. Start a data analysis service

A data analysis service is a great way to help businesses make sense of their data. This type of service can be used to provide insights into customer behavior, improve marketing campaigns, or simply help businesses make better decisions.

If you're interested in starting up a data analysis service, You will need knowledge in data analysis and the ability to communicate effectively with clients so they can benefit from what insights have been found by analyzing their information properly - this way it's not just about making money but also helping others!

iTechArt is a leading custom software development company that helps both startups and enterprises streamline their analytics process. They also generated revenue of $209 billion in 2019, while creating more than a million jobs over the past three years.

Starting a data analysis service is a perfect business idea for those with analytical skills and a desire to help businesses to make better use of their data. This business is in high demand and can be very profitable, with data analysts earning high salaries.

How much you can make: $20 — $2,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

I Built $1.54M/Year Tool That Finds The Best Investment Properties [From UK]

Founder of PropertyData creates a subscription website for UK property investors and developers that is now making $128,000 per month in recurring revenue.

About
Michael started PropertyData almost 7 years ago
Revenue
Michael grew the business to $128K/month
Costs
It cost Michael $68000 to start the business
Read by 4,883 founders

24. Become an event promoter

An event promoter is a professional responsible for marketing and promoting events such as concerts, conferences, speeches, festivals, and sporting events.

Event promoters can work as independent contractors or for a specific organization. The core responsibilities of event promoters include conducting research into the intended audience and setting up and running social media campaigns, among other duties.

To become an event promoter, develop communication skills, be proactive and learn how to organize and influence people to attend the events.

How much you can make: $10,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How I Built A $120K/Year Event Booking Platform

EventBookings is an all-in-one event technology platform that helps event organizers remain organized throughout the chaos of event planning and is now running the business with 25 employees and is currently on track to reach their next revenue target of $1M.

About
Mark started EventBookings about 7 years ago
Revenue
Mark grew the business to $10K/month
Costs
It cost Mark $60000 to start the business
Read by 3,531 founders

25. Start a fashion blogging business

Are you addicted to fashion trends and news? Thought so!

If so, starting a fashion blog can be a fun and practical way to earn passive income covering a topic you love. Starting a fashion blog is pretty straightforward. Buy a domain, create a website, and start creating content.

However, you have to share your content widely to attract readers. A key strategy for promoting your blog is sharing content via Instagram, YouTube, and other social media channels.

Social media channels provide a platform to get ideas on the subject and generate many opportunities.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $10,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How I Make $10K/Month Selling Printable Sewing Patterns From My Fashion Blog

Learn how this DIY blogger turned sewing pattern maker generates over $10k per month in passive income, and discover her tips for building an authentic brand on a budget.

About
Lisa started Creative Fashion Blog about 6 years ago
Revenue
Lisa grew the business to $10K/month
Costs
It cost Lisa $50 to start the business
Read by 25,832 founders

26. Start an online bakery

An online bakery is a business that sells baked goods through the internet.

To start an online bakery, first identify your specialty (like cookies, cupcakes, or bread) and gather basic baking equipment.

Next, create a simple website or use a platform like social media to showcase your products.

Take quality photos, set reasonable prices, and promote your online bakery through social media, local communities, and word of mouth to attract customers.

As orders come in, bake fresh treats, pack them securely, and arrange for reliable delivery or pickup options.

According to statistics, the global bakery products market size was $398B in 2020. The market is projected to grow from $416B in 2021 to $590B by 2028.

How much you can make: $25,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $7,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How This Couple Left France To Build Their "American Dream:" A Six-Figure Online French Bakery

French chef and founder of online bakery Pastreez, Anthony Rosemond, shares keys to success including validating ideas with the market, focusing on SEO and organic growth, building customer relationships through email and SMS, never offering discounts but offering freebies, and diversifying the business with new products and content on social media.

About
Anthony started Pastreez about 7 years ago
Revenue
Anthony grew the business to $25K/month
Costs
It cost Anthony $7000 to start the business
Read by 6,695 founders

27. Start a portrait photography business

You have been using your android or apple phone for years, taking photos of all your friends, kids, family, and anything that inspires you. Now, you leap and consider starting a portrait photography business.

Portrait photography captures a person’s essence, personality, identity, and attitude utilizing backgrounds, lighting, and posing.

To start portrait photography, hone your skills and acquire a professional camera and photo editing software. You can make money by selling photos on social media channels like Instagram or a stock photography website.

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

28. Start a selling business on etsy

Etsy is a marketplace where millions of people around the world connect to make, sell and buy unique goods. You can sell unique handmade goods, vintage items and craft supplies on the platform.

Here are steps for starting a selling business on Etsy:

  • Create your Etsy Account
  • Define the Shop preferences and set a name
  • Create a viable product
  • Input the payment settings and enter the credit card details
  • Open the Etsy shop, set up your bio and shop policies
  • Take images of your products and upload
  • Include compelling product descriptions and set reasonable prices

Your Etsy shop policies should indicate the processing time, shipping policies, payment options and the returns/exchanges policy.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $40,000/month

How I Overcame Life's Roadblocks And Started A $500K Business

Galen Leather, an Istanbul-based e-commerce store specializing in handmade leather goods, experienced a 138% increase in revenue to hit an average of around $40,000 in sales each month, with products like their Moleskine Cover helping the company achieve success.

About
Zeynep started Galen Leather almost 12 years ago
Revenue
Zeynep grew the business to $40K/month
Read by 6,404 founders

29. Become a magician

Are you interested in turning your passion for magic into a profitable business venture? You can become a magician and launch an online show through social media platforms.

A magician is a skilled entertainer who produces illusion by sleight of hand or deceptive devices. Pursuing a magician's career takes a lot of hard work. Like other careers, attaining success can be tricky to navigate and hard to master.

Choose your niche and focus on honing your craft to become an illusion. The different career options within the magic industry include illusionist, comedy magician, escapologist, mentalist, card magician, animal magician, virtual magician, and street magician.

How much you can make: $2,400 — $20,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How I Left A Lucrative Job To Start A $12K/Month Magic Shows Business

Dan Chan Presents, LLC is a unique company specializing in sophisticated magic entertainment for savvy corporate audiences, earning $160K performing live, and was able to pivot to virtual events during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding marketing reach performing internationally, and being featured multiple times in Business Insider and The Hustle.

About
Daniel started Dan Chan Presents: Virtual Magic Shows over 24 years ago
Revenue
Daniel grew the business to $12K/month
Costs
It cost Daniel $100 to start the business
Read by 9,088 founders

30. Start a secondhand products business

The rise of new markets in which products and resources are re-used and redistributed has opened entrepreneurs' opportunities. A second-hand business involves trading previously owned or used products within a B2C, C2C, or B2B business model.

To start a second-hand items business, identify a niche and source of your second-hand items. You can create a website and list the items on eBay or social media such as a Facebook marketplace.

How much you can make: $62,500,000/month

Patagonia: Yvon Chouinard : How I Built This with Guy Raz

Discover the philosophy behind clothing brand Patagonia's success, from its start producing climbing gear to its unique approach to business and leadership, with a focus on profit.

Revenue
They grew the business to $62.5M/month
Read by 747 founders

31. Start a brand promotion business

Brand promotion is a business that involves promoting and building the image of a particular brand. This can be done through various marketing strategies such as advertising, public relations, social media marketing, and events.

The brand promotion aims to increase brand awareness and generate positive associations with the brand in the minds of consumers. This can lead to increased sales and customer loyalty for the brand.

To run a successful brand promotion business, it is essential to have a strong understanding of the target audience and what they value in a brand. It is also essential to develop a clear brand message and consistently communicate it through all marketing efforts.

It is also crucial to stay up-to-date on industry trends and constantly adapt marketing strategies to remain relevant. Building strong relationships with clients and maintaining open communication is also key to success in this business.

In summary, brand promotion is a business that involves promoting and building the image of a brand through various marketing strategies. Success in this business requires a strong understanding of the target audience, a clear brand message, and the ability to adapt to industry trends. Strong client relationships and open communication are also essential for success.

How much you can make: $20,000/month

How long does it take to build: 135 days (?)

We Built A $150K/Year Portfolio Of Online Businesses [From Bangladesh]

Zovo Team Ltd, founded by Mahamud Hasan and his co-founders, is a full-stack digital marketing solutions company with an estimated revenue of $12.5k/month and yearly $150k+. They have six subsidiary brands that provide A to Z solutions for entrepreneurs, and their team is dedicated to the development of new entrepreneurs by offering effective solutions.

About
Mahamud started Zovo Team Ltd. over 4 years ago
Revenue
Mahamud grew the business to $20K/month
Costs
It cost Mahamud $200 to start the business
Read by 3,901 founders

32. Start a photo editing business

Photo editing businesses edit and retouch existing photos for their clients. The service ranges from cleaning up image blemishes and lighting issues. The photo editing business can be a fun and rewarding venture. The profit margin largely depends on your target customers and your set rate.

If starting a photo editing business, conduct market research and ensure competitive rates to keep attracting customers.

How much you can make: $8,333 — $220,000/month

How long does it take to build: 45 days (?)

How We Run A $3M/Year Subscription-Based Services Company

Case Study: PhotoUp is a real estate photo editing company that has gone from a team of 10 to over 200 employees in the Philippines, with over 60 contractors around the world and expects to close in on $3,000,000 in revenue this year.

About
Devon started PhotoUp over 12 years ago
Revenue
Devon grew the business to $220K/month
Costs
It cost Devon $50000 to start the business
Read by 1,113 founders

33. Start a social media advertising specialist business

A social media advertising specialist uses social media platforms to promote a product or service. Advertisers often use platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok to reach new customers and engage with the current ones.

To become a social media advertising specialist, get the skills you need to discover essential concepts in modern social media marketing. Choose an appropriate social media platform and design your unique advertising plan.

How much you can make: $10,000 — $1,600,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $162 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

I Started My Own $20K/Month Social Media Marketing Agency

This case study follows Kelsey Chance and her creative agency, Good Chance Creative, which specializes in social media content creation, and in just 3 years she has grown her one-woman business to make $20,000 in monthly revenue through a niche in small in-house marketing teams and start-ups managing their social content, with key services including lifestyle brand photography, social media account management, copywriting, and eCommerce strategy consulting.

About
Kelsey started Good Chance almost 6 years ago
Revenue
Kelsey grew the business to $20K/month
Costs
It cost Kelsey $500 to start the business
Read by 6,464 founders

34. Become a public speaker

Motivational speakers share powerful messages based on their life experiences. The focus is on helping others gain life's wisdom and become successful.

If you plan to become a motivational public speaker, learn how you can transition your genuine passion to becoming a professional public speaker who inspires others.

Then, start a social media channel and share your videos widely to go viral.

How much you can make: $7,000 — $200,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Started A $100K/Month Membership Platform Focused On Self-Improvement

Founder Dean Bokhari shares how he launched a membership platform focused on self-improvement, generating over $100,000 per month in revenue, attracting customers via high-quality content, guest blogging and Facebook ads, with plans to grow to $1,000,000 per month over the next 3-5 years.

About
Dean started Dean Bokhari about 3 years ago
Revenue
Dean grew the business to $120K/month
Costs
It cost Dean $5000 to start the business
Read by 7,557 founders

35. Start an instagram contest service

Instagram contests help brands expand their reach, increase followers and build brand awareness. If you have a massive following on Instagram, you can start running Instagram contests on behalf of a brand or an individual.

During the Instagram contest, you encourage your followers to take a particular action in favor of the brand you are partnering with. For instance, tagging the brand on every post can qualify the audience for a reward.

Through Instagram contests, you will earn money from commissions or a fixed rate depending on your agreement with the brand.

How much you can make: $1,600,000/month

From Zero to Multi-Million In Annual Recurring Revenue with Colton Bollinger

Jumper Media-founder Colton Bollinger's Instagram-focused marketing strategies helped him to assist over 3000 small businesses to build brand awareness and boost audience engagement and sales, leading Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Yahoo to recognize him for his efforts.

About
Colton started Jumper Media over 8 years ago
Revenue
Colton grew the business to $1.6M/month
Read by 753 founders

36. Start an online course creation business

Starting an online course could be perfect if you want a passive income. Whatever your background, you could start teaching online and earn a passive income.

All you need to start an online course is patience, imagination, and an enabling eLearning platform where you can connect with the relevant audience.

Online courses may take time and require a lot of effort to start selling. However, once your audience finds the content resourceful, they start sharing and recommending it through their network. Remember, creating an online course could take longer than expected, so remain focused and give your best.

How much you can make: $1,666,666/month

How My Business Went From $0 To $20 Million With Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Prep Expert's founder built a test preparation platform from his dorm room with just $900 that has since accumulated over $20 million in sales and attracted billionaire Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, due to doubled yearly sales from word-of-mouth marketing and hundreds of points of improvement in students' SAT scores.

About
Shaan started Prep Expert over 13 years ago
Revenue
Shaan grew the business to $1.67M/month
Read by 807 founders

37. Become a dance choreographer

Dance choreographers create compositions and plans and arrange dance movements and patterns for dances, especially ballets. Choreographers also develop different interpretations of existing dances for an individual or group of dancers.

To become a dance choreographer, you will need to take training lessons. You may pursue a degree in musical theater and take relevant dance coursework. The training enables you to master different dance types and learn how to create dances.

How much you can make: $8,400/month

How Jennifer Sobel Males A Six Figure Income By Selling Belly Dancing Course

Learn how a belly dancing coach turned her passion into a six-figure business using digital marketing strategies, with hundreds of women on TheBellyDanceSolution.com achieving positive body goals, confidence, and self-esteem.

About
Jennifer started The Belly Dance Solution over 5 years ago
Revenue
Jennifer grew the business to $8.4K/month
Read by 874 founders

38. Start an online art prints business

The art print is a fast-growing segment. Although there is a lot of competition in the fine art marketplace, selling original art prints online can be profitable.

You do not have to rely on original artwork sales alone for financial stability in your artistic career. Selling copies and digital art from different artists is a simpler way of starting your online art print business.

How much you can make: $6,600 — $110,000/month

$80,000 in Etsy Sales: How to Grow from Here? [Side Hustle Coaching]

This Etsy seller increased sales from $10k to $80k in just one year by selling 4000 customized garments.

About
They started Goober Prints about 5 years ago
Revenue
They grew the business to $6.6K/month
Read by 789 founders

39. Become a celebrity hair stylist

According to research, the salon industry is growing steadily and not slowing anytime soon. Experts estimate that the global spa and beauty salon market will reach over USD190 Billion in the next few years.

Therefore, becoming a celebrity hairstylist is a fun and profitable business opportunity. To start your business, it would help if you took the time to gain experience in the hair salon industry. Then, focus on understanding the current trends in the hair industry, and choose the right niche.

To grow your business, focus on creating an active social media presence. platforms like Instagram, Facebook and YouTube can help you reach a wider audience.

40. Start a meme marketing business

According to statistics, millennials review memes an average of 20 to 30 times daily. While traditional marketing yields only 5% engagement, memes earn about 60% of the attention.

Therefore, using memes to market gives businesses immense potential.

Based on the above findings, starting a meme marketing business on social media offers a good profitability potential.

A meme marketing business can involve creating catchy memes that will go viral on the internet and selling them to marketers. You can sell memes through social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or even Facebook.

41. Start an Instagram food channel business

Instagram is a visual platform, hence a good choice for setting up a food channel. An Instagram food channel brings together a community of food lovers, providing them with a program for interacting and discussing different foods.

Setting up an Instagram food channel allows you to build a community of foodies. As they engage on different topics, there is a huge chance of growing your channel. Ultimately, you can earn good money through the Instagram food channel.

42. Start an Instagram food channel business

Instagram is a visual platform, hence a good choice for setting up a food channel. An Instagram food channel brings together a community of food lovers, providing them with a program for interacting and discussing different foods.

Setting up an Instagram food channel allows you to build a community of foodies. As they engage on different topics, there is a huge chance of growing your channel. Ultimately, you can earn good money through the Instagram food channel.

43. Start a prop styling business

A prop stylist works on a photo shoot to enhance the creative vision using props. Photographers and videographers hire prop artists to help build an eye-catching believable setting for their shoots.

If you are interested in photo and video editing, you may consider starting a prop stylist business. Promoting your business on Instagram and other visual-based social media platforms can grow your business significantly.

44. Start a custom illustrating business

Many businesses use stock illustrations or images in their commercials. While stock illustrations provide a cheaper option, the visuals aren’t part of the product, so the brand message is diluted.

In a business world where more than 70% of social media and B2B marketers use visuals in their promotions, creating custom illustrations is highly on demand.

Ideally, custom illustration is an essential visual strategy helping businesses use clever, compelling visual content to effectively communicate with the target audience.

With major social media platforms dependent on visuals to create impressions, starting a custom illustrating business can be an opportunity to build a profitable business. Custom illustrations are a visual representation of any text and are considered art for beautifying elements.

To kickstart your custom illustration business, pursue a fine arts certification, where you will learn computer graphics, drawing, and painting skills. Then, identify your style, create a portfolio, then focus on building a client base.

45. Start an instagram growth agency

An Instagram growth agency helps businesses grow their following on Instagram. While a business can grow its Instagram following by itself, the process takes time, effort, and many other resources.

However, hiring an expert to help you through Instagram growth can set your business for success sooner than if they took the task.

Businesses hire Instagram growth agencies in the quest for a growing Instagram audience. Therefore, starting your own Instagram growth agency can be a successful and profitable Instagram business idea.

How much you can make: $1,600,000/month

How long does it take to build: 5 days (?)

From Zero to Multi-Million In Annual Recurring Revenue with Colton Bollinger

Jumper Media-founder Colton Bollinger's Instagram-focused marketing strategies helped him to assist over 3000 small businesses to build brand awareness and boost audience engagement and sales, leading Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Yahoo to recognize him for his efforts.

About
Colton started Jumper Media over 8 years ago
Revenue
Colton grew the business to $1.6M/month
Read by 753 founders

46. Start a comedian business

Are you ready to become a comedian?

A recent report has shown that social media is the go-to platform for showcasing comedy. Comedians are taking on social media platforms like Instagram to showcase pranks, sketches, and jokes.

Therefore, if you are ready to become a comedian, social media could be the right place to build your career.

To start, create a profile on all major social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. to grow your following fast, ensure you upload content regularly.

How much you can make: $12,000/month

From Being 'Unemployable' To Starting My Own $144K/Year Business Writing Funny Copy

Punchline Copy founder, Lianna Patch, discusses how focusing on her strengths and specializing in funny copywriting helped her secure $25k+ months, and offers advice for entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses.

About
Lianna started Punchline Conversion Copywriting about 16 years ago
Revenue
Lianna grew the business to $12K/month
Read by 3,704 founders

47. Start an instagram contest service

Instagram contests help brands expand their reach, increase followers and build brand awareness. If you have a massive following on Instagram, you can start running Instagram contests on behalf of a brand or an individual.

During the Instagram contest, you encourage your followers to take a particular action in favor of the brand you are partnering with. For instance, tagging the brand on every post can qualify the audience for a reward.

Through Instagram contests, you will earn money from commissions or a fixed rate depending on your agreement with the brand.

How much you can make: $1,600,000/month

From Zero to Multi-Million In Annual Recurring Revenue with Colton Bollinger

Jumper Media-founder Colton Bollinger's Instagram-focused marketing strategies helped him to assist over 3000 small businesses to build brand awareness and boost audience engagement and sales, leading Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Yahoo to recognize him for his efforts.

About
Colton started Jumper Media over 8 years ago
Revenue
Colton grew the business to $1.6M/month
Read by 753 founders

48. Start a live workshop instruction business

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 31 days (?)

49. Start a topic expert business

50. Start an Instagram or snapchat marketing business

Starting an Instagram or Snapchat marketing business is a great way to tap into the millions of users on these platforms. If you have a passion for social media and a knack for creating engaging content, this could be your perfect business opportunity. To start your Instagram or Snapchat marketing business, you’ll need to establish your target audience first. Are you targeting small businesses, influencers, or a niche like fashion or travel? Once you know who you’re targeting, you can create a content strategy that resonates with them and helps you stand out from the competition. To get started, you’ll need to set up a business account on Instagram or Snapchat and build your following. This can be done by creating and sharing high-quality content, using hashtags, and engaging with other users. You can also leverage your existing social media following to promote your new business. To run a successful Instagram or Snapchat marketing business, you’ll need to constantly create and share new content and stay up to date with the latest trends and algorithm updates on these platforms. It would be best if you also were willing to experiment with different content formats, like Instagram stories or Snapchat filters, to see what works best for your audience.

In addition to creating and sharing content, you may also want to offer additional services like Instagram or Snapchat ad management or social media strategy consulting. You can attract a wider range of clients and increase your revenue streams by offering various services.

To start and run a successful Instagram or Snapchat marketing business, you’ll need a strong understanding of social media, excellent communication skills, and the ability to create engaging content. With the right skills and strategy, you can tap into the millions of users on these platforms and turn your passion for social media into a profitable business.

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

51. Become a food photographer

Food photography is a growing field in commercial photography, with demand for high-quality food images increasing as more businesses turn to social media and online marketing to promote their products. As a food photographer, you’ll capture mouthwatering images of dishes, drinks, and other food products for marketing, menus, and other promotional materials.

You'll need a few key pieces of equipment to start a successful food photography business. These include a high-quality camera and lenses, lighting equipment, and editing software. You’ll also need a strong portfolio of work to showcase your skills and attract potential clients.

Building a client base is one of the biggest challenges of starting a food photography business. To do this, you’ll need to be proactive in marketing yourself and your services. This can include networking with local businesses, attending industry events, and building a strong online presence through social media and a professional website.

According to a recent survey, the food and beverage industry is one of the top industries using professional photographers, with over 50% of businesses reporting that they use professional photography for marketing and promotional materials. With the right skills and marketing strategies, there is plenty of opportunity for success in the food photography industry.

How much you can make: $11,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

I Left My Tenured Position To Start An $11K/Month Photography Studio

This case study follows the journey of Sean Audet, who built an award-winning commercial photography studio specializing in food and product photography, growing it from a part-time experiment to a full-time career that brings in around $11,000 a month, emphasizing the importance of taking risks and embracing new opportunities for aspiring founders in building and growing their own business.

About
Sean started Sean Audet Photography over 6 years ago
Revenue
Sean grew the business to $11K/month
Read by 870 founders

52. Start a photoshoot styling business

meet the author
David Gitonga

"The best life hack of all is to just put the work in and never give up" - Bas Rutten (UFC Heavyweight Champion). Hey there! I am a talented freelancer passionate about writing and researching all topics business and entrepreneurship.